The legion

I was rolling on the streets of Kolkata just about a while back. My wife tells me that I am fat enough to resemble a football. If indeed I do, it is damn good for me as football is a multi billion dollar industry for the truly industrious. Also, a football rolls and gathers no moss, my dear. I was eagerly watching those around me, some of them in a tearing hurry, some strolling casually munching on peanuts, some just wanting to cross a busy intersection and not knowing whether or not to be a martyr, some more, young ones at that, quite oblivious of their surroundings and walking right through the traffic, hand in hand, as though they can handle life's odds better by being blissfully unaware of it's offerings. So many different shades of life, livelihood,  legacy, longing, loneliness and legion. 

I would like to particularly emphasise on the word legion, for, that is what I observed most as I rolled over again and again. The Gospel of Mark, 5.9, notes the following : 'And He(Jesus) asked him (the man), "what is thy name ?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion : for we are many'. On a casual Saturday afternoon, the broken dusty streets of Kolkata seems like the backwaters of the river Bhagirati. and every soul on the streets, their spirits soaring or melancholy or stoic, their colour red or green or saffron or any shade in between, seem like seafarers sailing towards the great exit. There seemed to be only one name for them, for all of them together actually; legion. Our great political masters call them "aam admi" though I liked the earlier version of "aam janata" better since it was more gender neutral. Mind you, I can differentiate myself from all this legion business as I roll and do not stroll, and therefore can rightfully have a ball-istic perspective.

And there was this Bhadrolok. Neatly dressed, well pressed (or well placed), short haired, shiny shoes, tiny handbag, and a head full of worries. Can he stay afloat and still manage to balance between what the Government and what his family requires of him ? Can he go to the bazzar every morning and come back with a canfull of wonders instead of a bagful of woes ? Can he meet the bills of all the utilities that he cant live without and still make all ends meet ? Can he hold back from turning into a legion and fight to remain a middle class, whose employers make sure that he travels cattle class every time he flies ? He had a smile on his parched lips that said it all. There is no one, really no one, to hold him up if he slips. The banks will hound him if he fails on his EMI. The other Bhadroloks will start avoiding him (as Bhadrolok is not legion). The legion will not support him as he is not one of them either. The Government will naturally look the other way as he does not qualify to be "aam"

I rolled up to him and looked sharply. I do not have any moss as I have been rolling for a long time. If only he could understand that rolling is better than strolling, at least we, just the two of us, could have become legion2. Remember, football is a multi billion dollar industry for the truly industrious to share ?  And when the football hits the nets, it is never kicked but carefully picked up.